Self-contained easel display case



April 17, 1951 s, GREENE 2,549,306

SELF-CONTAINED EASEL DISPLAY CASE Filed June 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 STEEL/Na GREENE IN VEN TOR.

April 17, 1951 s, GREENE 2,54%,306

SELF-CONTAINED EASEL DISPLAY CASE Filed June 21, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 STEEL/N6 GREE/VE INVENTOR.

S. GREENE SELF-CONTAINED EASEL. DISPLAY CASE April 17, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1947 STEEL/N6 GREENE INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a portable cabinet or carrying case adapted to contain cards, pictures or other data to be exhibited and openable into the form of an easel for the efiective display of such data. It is an object of the invention to provide the carrying case in a form which thoroughly protects the cards or other data when the case is closed, but may be readily opened whenever desired to constitute an easel for the display of such cards one after the other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the device with means acting automatically to maintain it in an open position in easel form when opened but allowing it to be readily closed to house and protect the contents. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my display cabinet in open position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet when closed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the closed cabinet, showing the position of the cards therein; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cabinet in the act of being opened; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the cabinet when opened in easel form, in a plane near one end of the cabinet; Fig. 6 is a vertical section in the same plane as Fig. 5 but with the case closed; Fig. '7 is a sectional perspective of part of the linkage for retaining the cabinet open.

My display cabinet comprises briefly three main members hingedly connected to fold into a compact closed unit or be extended into a position where two of the members are spread at an angle to form a support and the third member is caused to align with one of the other members, one of such aligned members carrying means for supporting cards or other data extending either upwardly or downwardly. One of the three members mentioned comprises a comparatively thin rectangular box open at one face; the second member is hinged at the top to this box so that it may be swung within it or project at an angle to it, and the third member is hinged to the top of the second member to extend upwardly therefrom, while when swung downwardly into a closed position it operates as a cover for the box and thus encloses within the box the second member and all of the material to be displayed.

I will now describe in detail the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawin s.

In this embodiment l0 designates the first member above referred to, 20 the second member, and 30 the third member. The first member I0 is a receptacle in the form of a rectangular box 11 Claims. (Cl. 40-102) having a continuous back I I, end walls l2, and a bottom wall l3 which adjacent the back is at right angles to the back but then bends at an acute angle as shown at l 4.

The second member 20, referred to hereinafter as an intermediate member or a supporting member has a continuous back 2|, end walls 22 and a bottom wall 23 which is preferably at an oblique angle to the backZl. This second mem-- ber has a top wall 24 at right angles to the back and the end walls. This top member at its rear edge is hinged to the back H of the first member by a continuous piano hinge 25.

The third member 30 (hereinafter referred to as a panel or closure plate) is in the form of a flat plate hinged at its lower edge to the front edge of the top 24 of the second member by a continuous piano hinge 26.

It follows from the above described construction that the second member 20 may be folded within the first member I0, thus bringing the back 2| snugly against the back H and causing the top 24 to be at right angles to such back. The third member 30 may be folded-by its hinge to bring it into engagement with the end walls l2 of the first member so that it may cooperate with said first member to form a complete closure.

The second member is provided with a suitable handle in the form of a strap 2'! secured to the top plate 24 by which the device may be readily carried when closed.

. The cards or other material to be displayed, indicated at A in Figs. 3 and 5, are carried by a series of separable loops 40, these loops being mounted on a suitable longitudinal retainer 4| secured to the plate 30 adjacent the hinge 26.

Any suitable means may be provided for separating the loops for mounting or releasing the cards. Such means is indicated by the movable finger extensions 42 at the ends of the retainer 4|, these end portions operating suitable means housed within the retainer to separate the loops, after the manner of any suitable ring binder, of which there are several forms on the market. I may mention, however, by way of example, the loose leaf binder shown in Patent No. 2,056,812, granted October 6, 1936, to Wilson-Jones Company of Chicago, Illinois, as assignee of Paul O. Unger of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

When the first and second members l0 and 20 are spread at an acute angle to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 5, they provide a very stable support for the third member which may be swung on its hinge for substantially from its closed position to cause it to extend upwardly and backwardly, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position a series of cards A mounted on the loops 4!] may stand one behind the other in front of the panel 30 and then turned down one after another onto the lower portion of the loops 4!] to depend into the intermediate member 20.

Thus at the beginning of a display all of the cards may be in the uppermost region in front of the panel 30 and one after another turned down into the lower or idle position until all of the cards are in such idle position; or, if desired, the display may be effected in the reverse direction by swinging the cards one after another upwardly from their lower depending position into position in front of the panel 30. If desired, the cards may be in pairs so that an upper card in front of the panel 30 may form in effect a continuous display with a lower card depending into the intermediate member 20.

To retain the two members Ill and in a definite spread position when spread and at the same time retain the panel 39 in its desired upward position, I provide a system of linkage operating automatically merely upon the opening of the device. I will now describe this linkage system. As it is duplicated at each end of the device, it is only necessary todescribe it with reference to end to end.

A link 59 is pivoted at 5! to an end wall I2 of the first member IE1, and a similar link 52.'iS pivoted at 53 to the end wall of the second member 20. The other ends of these two links are pivoted together at 54. 55 indicates a link having a slot 56 embracing the pivot pin 54 and slidable thereon. This link 55 is pivoted at its upper end to a block 57 which is pivoted at 58 to an end wall 22 of the intermediate member. The block 5! projects a short distance in front of the end wall 22 as shown at 59. This portion 59 has secured to it a rod 60 which is slidable into a tube 5! pivoted at 62 to the closing panel 31],

When the case is closed the links 50 and 52 are folded on each other, their pivot pin 54 sliding up in the slot 58. At the same time the block 5? is swung so that the rod 60 projects diagonally downward and is almost entirely housed within the tube 6 I. This condition of the parts is shown in Fig. 6.

To open the case the operator merely takes hold of the lower edge of the front panel 35, swings it upwardly through various intermediate positions indicated in Fig. 4 until it is approxi mately vertical, which causes it to align with the free edge of the wall 22; then he continues the movement, which swings the top panel 30 and intermediate member 20 as a unit into the position indicated in Fig. 5.

At the completion of this opening movement, the pivot 5% has descended to the bottom of the slot 56 and thus applies a downward stress on the link 55. Therefore, the two members H] and 20 could not spread farther without pulling downwardly on the block 5? and swing it on its pivot 58. But such further movement of the block is prevented by the'rod 60 which is rigid with the block and at this time lies snugly against the face of the panel 30.

It thus results that when the two members I!) and 20 have been spread to their open position, as shown in Fig. 5, the spreading is definitely stopped and thus there is a stable support for the device. The inclined portion It in the bottom of the member I B and the incline of the bottom wall 23 of the member 29 are at such an angle that in this spread position these two members are aligned in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5 and may rest on the table, desk or other support for the device. The rods 60 in the tubes 6| hold the display panel 38 automatically in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 5.

To bring the parts back to the closed position of Fig. 6, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the panel 30, fold it downwardly. This carries the cards and the intermediate member into the main frame H! with which the panel 30 forms a closure.

The linkages described are confined in a narrow space between the ends [2 of the outer member and the ends 22 of the intermediate member and thus the space for the cards is not restricted.

The panel 30 may carry a pair of aligned edge strips 32 to occupy the space beneath the inclined portion M of the bottom of the case I i), as shown in Fig. 6. A central space between these edge strips, as shown in Fig. 1, provides an easy grip for the operators fingers in opening the device. A'suitable latch is provided to lock the free edge of the panel 3E3 to the main frame 18 when the device is closed. I have shown a latch 10 secured to the inner face of the panel 38 adjacent its free edge and having a snap bolt ll adapted to coact with a notch '12 in the portion 14 of the receptacle bottom, as a keeper. The bolt is released by a movable button 13 on the exterior, which may, if desired, have a keyhole for a removable key to lock the bolt in closed position.

It will be seen that my display case with its cards or other data to be displayed is self-contained; that it provides an easily handled carrying case fully protecting the contents. It may be almost instantaneously converted into an easel, definitely holding itself in stable position extending upwardly and inclining backwardly as desired for an easel, and when in this position the cards may be readily displayed in front of the upper panel 30 or of the intermediate panel 20 or both and readily changed from one to the other as desired. After the display the mere swinging of the panel 33 downwardly into closed position carries all the other movable parts to closed position.

I claim:

1. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle having a back and end walls and an open front, an intermediate member having a top hinged at its rear edge to the back of the receptacle adjacent the upper edge of the receptacle, and a display panel hinged to the top of the intermediate member adjacent thefront edge of the top, said panel being adapted to form a closure contacting with the receptacle front to house the intermediate member within the receptacle, and card-supporting means carried by the display panel adjacent its hinge connection and adapted to be folded within the case when closed.

2. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle havin a back and end walls and an open front, an intermediate member having a top hinged at its rear edge to the back of the receptacle adjacent its upper edge,-

a display panel hinged to the top of the intermediate member adjacent the front edge of said top, said anel being adapted to form a closure coacting with the receptacle to, house the intermediate member within it, a set of separable loops carried by the display panel adjacent its hinge connection and adapted to lie within the device when closed,- a pair of links pivotally connected together and individually pivoted at their free ends to the receptacle and the intermediate member respectively.

3. The combination of a receptacle, an intermediate member hinged to the receptacle adapted to be folded within it or extend at an angle to it to form a support with it, a panel hinged the intermediate member and adapted to coact with the receptacle to form a closure or extend upwardly from the intermediate member to form a display panel, means for automatically holding the receptacle and intermediate member in spread position as a support and the panel in upward position as a display easel consequent upon the opening of the device into display position.

4. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle, a supporting member and a panel all hingedly connected together, a pair of links pivotally connected together at one end and at their other ends respectively connected to the receptacle and the supporting member, a block pivotally connected to the supporting member, a slotted link pivotally connected to the block and embracing the common pivot of the first-mentioned links, and a pair of mutually telescoping members one carried by said block and the other pivotally connected to the panel.

5. In a self-contained easel display case, the combination of two members hinged together and adapted to be folded one against the other or spread at an angle to form a support and a panel hingedly connected to one of the members and adapted to extend therefrom as an easel or be folded down to make a closure for the receptacle, and a device for holding the panel in easel position comprising a pair of telescoping members, one pivotally connected at one end to the panel adjacent its free edge and the other pivotally connected at the other end to one of the supporting members.

6. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle having a back and end Walls and an open front, an intermediate member having a top hinged at its rear edge to the back of the receptacle adjacent its upper edge and a display panel hinged to the top of the intermediate member adjacent its front edge,

said panel being adapted to form a closure coacting with the receptacle to house the intermediate member within it, card supporting means carried by the display panel adjacent its hinge connection and adapted to be folded within the case when closed, and a telescoping tube and rod, one pivotally connected to the display panel adjacent the free edge thereof and the other pivotally connected to the intermediate member.

7. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle having a back and end walls and an open front, an intermediate member having a top hinged at its rear edge to the back of the receptacle adjacent its upper edge, a display panel hinged to the top of the intermediate member adjacent its front edge, said panel being adapted to form a closure coacting with the receptacle to house the intermediate member within it, a set of separable loops carried by the display panel adjacent its hinge connection and adapted to be folded within the case when closed, a pair of links pivotally connected together at one 6 end and at their other ends respectively connected to the receptacle and the intermediate member, a block pivotally connected to the intermediate member, a slotted link pivotally connect ed to the block and embracing the common pivot of the first-mentioned links, and a pair of mutual-- ly telescoping members one carried by said block and the other pivotally connected to the panel.

8. In a self-contained easel display case, the combination of a receptacle having an open front, a closure plate therefor, and a supporting member, said three parts being hingedly connected together, said closure plate being adapted to close against the open face of the receptacle and house the supporting member within the receptacle, means for holding the supporting member at an angle to the receptacle to form a support and for holding the closure plate in the position extending upwardly from the support as an easel.

9. The combination of a panel, a support to which the same is hinged comprising a receptacle and a supporting member hingedly connected together, whereby said three members may be folded together to constitute a closed container, means for holding the panel in an upwardly extending position as an easel and for holding the other two members at an angle to each other as a support, and card-supporting means adjacent the lower edge of said easel, said card supporting means being mounted on the panel above its lower edge and adapted to be moved by the panel into the receptacle when the device is closed.

10. In a self-contained display easel, the combination of a receptacle having a back and end walls, a supporting member having a back and a top rigid therewith, said top being hinged at its rear edge to the back of the receptacle, a panel hinged to the front edge of the top of the supporting member, and means for supporting display cards adapted to extend upwardly along the panel or to be folded with the panel and supporting member into the receptacle while the panel closes against the walls of the receptacle to form a case housing the supporting member and cards.

11. The combination of a receptacle, an intermediate member hingedly connected thereto, a display panel hingedly connected to the intermediate member, said parts being adapted to be folded upon each other to bring the panel into direct coaction with the receptacle to form a closed case housing the intermediate member within the receptacle or extended to form a support with an upwardly extending display panel, and foldable means connecting the intermediate member with the receptacle and with the display panel and adapted to hold the parts in display position or be folded within the receptacle.

STERLING GREENE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 196,776 Beck Nov. 6, 1877 1,104,711 Shepard July 21, 1914 1,115,021 Pummill Oct. 27, 1914 1,197,610 Darling Sept. 12, 1916 

